WugulOra Morning Ceremony

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One country, one mob. As the sun rises, connect with the world’s oldest living culture. Join the Premier of New South Wales and the Governor of New South Wales to celebrate our traditional custodians, watch Koomurri Aboriginal Dance Troupe perform a smoking ceremony, then sing the national anthem as the Aboriginal and Australian flags are raised on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

WugulOra, meaning ‘One Mob’, is a special moment to begin Australia Day.

Actor Aaron McGrath will be your Master of Ceremonies as we acknowledge our shared history and the strength and resilience of the world’s oldest living culture.

Cleanse the way for new beginnings by taking part in a smoking ceremony, an ancient custom among Aboriginal Australians in which native plants are burnt to produce smoke. In Aboriginal culture, this smoke, dependant on which leaves are used, has different healing and cleansing properties and the ability to ward off bad spirits.

Listen as Jason Owen sings the national anthem in English and Eora, the local Aboriginal language. Then watch as the Aboriginal and Australian flags are raised on the Sydney Harbour Bridge to mark the start of Australia Day.

Before the ceremony

The Australia Day 2019 Smoking Ceremony flame will be lit on 25 January and tended to overnight at Me-mel (Goat Island). The fire will be transported from Me-mel to Marrinawi Cove, Barangaroo by the Tribal Warror. A procession will escort the fire to Walumil lawns, Barangaroo, at 7:45 AM on 26 January 2019.

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The Australia Day Council of NSW acknowledges we are living and working on Aboriginal land and recognises the strength, resilience and capacity of Aboriginal people on this land. The Council would like to acknowledge all of the traditional owners of the land, and pay respect to Aboriginal Elders past, present and future.